NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans today reminded residents of the annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program to restore our wetlands. For over 25 years, this program has contributed to the restoration of the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge, while preventing them from being placed in landfills. The trees also create an important habitat for birds, fish, crabs, crawfish and shrimp.
“Every year, our Christmas trees bring light and happiness into our homes, but their significance goes far beyond spreading holiday joy,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Recycling and placing these trees along our eroding coastline to help rebuild our wetlands will assist in the effort to protect our great city and state for generations to come. This robust tree recycling program is another example of how New Orleans will continue to lead in combatting the global climate crisis while promoting innovative opportunities to create a better, greener and more vibrant community. So far, recycled trees have restored an area of marsh equal to approximately 200 football fields. Thank you to our residents who continue to donate their Christmas trees year after year to enhance our coastline restoration efforts.”
The program is coordinated by the City’s Office of Resilience and Sustainability (ORS) and Department of Sanitation, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Louisiana National Guard.
“We’re bringing attention to the Christmas Tree Recycling Program today because Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are popular days for New Orleanians to buy and decorate live Christmas trees,” said Director of Economic Development Jeff Schwartz. “The City can only accept trees without tinsel and flocking, and we ask residents to please consider this while decorating your tree.”
“While we are making great progress, protecting our natural resources remains more important than ever for New Orleans,” said ORS Deputy Chief Resilience Officer Greg Nichols. “The Christmas Tree Recycling Program is a great way for residents to get involved in the fight to restore our coast.”
Residents are encouraged to place their trees curbside for collection by Department of Sanitation contractors from Jan. 8 – 12, 2024. Trees cannot be flocked, and all ornamentation must be removed before placing them on the curb. Once they are collected, they will be sorted, bundled and airlifted by helicopter and dropped in targeted sections of the Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge. The City’s goal is to collect 10,000 trees this year.
“The annual Christmas Tree Drop represents a long-standing partnership between the Louisiana National Guard and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” said Louisiana National Guard, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Gabriel Ruiz. “It benefits the City of New Orleans and surrounding coastal environment, while also providing valuable training hours for our pilots and crewmembers of the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment.”
“I’d like to thank the residents of New Orleans for sharing their Christmas trees with us each year and making their contribution to coastal restoration,” said USFWS Refuge Manager Shelley Stiaes. “Their tradition of donating Christmas trees is helping to rebuild our coastline and build habitat for wildlife.”
###